Knee ache eased... by injection of antibiotic pills: Tablets smaller than a human hair will help battle arthritis
Tiny antibiotic pellets no wider than a human hair may be a new way to tackle knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
The grains, less than 0.07mm long, are created when powdered antibiotics are mixed with a special ‘carrier’ liquid.
The solution is injected into blood vessels in the arthritic knee, where the pellets clump together until they block the flow.
Tiny antibiotic pellets no wider than a human hair may be a new way to tackle knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (file photo)
When the blood flow is permanently blocked off, the vessels die, as do pain-carrying nerves in the area.
A Japanese study found that patients who had the treatment saw a fourfold drop in pain levels after just one month, and symptoms continued improving during the following year.
Similar procedures are already widely used to treat defects in the body’s blood vessels, known as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), uterine fibroids and some forms of cancer.
Osteoarthritis affects more than eight million people in the UK, with symptoms of knee arthritis seen in one in ten people aged 55 and over.
pre bonded hairTreatments range from painkillers and physiotherapy for relatively mild forms of the disease, to joint replacements for severe cases.
However, there are few options for those with drug-resistant moderate arthritis which is not severe enough to warrant joint-replacement surgery.
It had been thought that the discomfort associated with osteoarthritis was down to the loss of cartilage, the cushioning material that lines joints, but recent research has found that the degree of cartilage loss is not an indicator of pain level.
A study found that patients who had the new treatment saw a fourfold drop in pain levels after just one month (pictured, a knee joint scan)
Instead, an emerging theory is that osteoarthritis pain is caused by angiogenesis – the growth of new blood vessels – which occurs where there is chronic inflammation.
This brings with it growth of new nerves which are involved in the transmission of pain.
More than 90 per cent of people with osteoarthritis have been found to have had angiogenesis, often close to the area where the pain is felt.
Blocking or reducing blood supply in vessels using tiny particles, known as geniculate artery embolisation, is now being trialled by doctors in Japan as a way to tackle osteoarthritis pain.
The solution is injected into blood vessels in the arthritic knee, where the pellets clump together until they block the flow
The study of the new treatment, carried out at the Musculoskeletal Intervention Center in Tokyo, involved 14 osteoarthritis patients who had not responded to treatment for at least three months.
After identifying the rogue blood vessels around the patients’ knee with scans, doctors inserted a catheter loaded with pellets containing a solution of the antibiotics imipenem and cilastatin sodium. Once injected, the pellets blocked the vessels.
After just four weeks, there was an average fourfold reduction in pain, and patients also reported less pain while walking and climbing stairs.
Dr Phil Conaghan, Arthritis Research UK spokesman and professor of musculoskeletal medicine at the University of Leeds, said the new treatment could offer an alternative for those who have not responded to medication.
‘We know that very tiny blood vessels and nerves grow into areas of damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis, and these may be important in producing some of the pain people get from their osteoarthritis,’ he added.
‘Although the treatment described in this study is still in development and the study is very small, it’s exciting to see a potential new method for reducing pain.
He cautioned: ‘Lots of care will be needed in developing the therapy as blocking larger blood vessels could be harmful to joints.’

She's been sending viewers into meltdown with her racy sartorial displays during BBC's Olympics coverage.
And Helen Skelton hogged the spotlight once again as she soaked up the atmosphere at the Olympic pool with her co-presenter pal Rebecca Adlington on Saturday.
The TV presenter, 33, looked sensational as she showed off her toned legs in a sexy thigh-split dress, which was accentuated by her towering red heels.
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All eyes on her: Helen Skelton, 33, hogged the spotlight once again as she soaked up the atmosphere at the Olympic pool wearing a sexy thigh-split dress and red heels
Lots of fun: The TV presenter looked sensational as she got into the spirit of things with her co-presenter Rebecca Adlington
The British sensation oozed confidence in the navy lace number which featured a tiered waist.
remy hair extensionsThe former Blue Peter presenter went on to match her bold lips to her statement heels as she cheered on the competitors.
And Helen was all ready to report on the action as a microphone peeked out from the side of her tousled shoulder length tresses.
Joining her was Rebecca who looked angelic in a pretty white dress which complemented her long poker straight mane as she giggled with her pal.
Walking the walk: Her lithe frame was accentuated by her towering red heels
Loving life: The British sensation oozed confidence in the navy lace number
Stunner: The striking dress featured a tiered waist and a broderie anglaise detail
Taking a picture: The former Blue Peter presenter put on quite the fun-filled display with her pal Rebecca as she took a snap of her
Covering another poolside appearance earlier on in the week, Helen stunned in a demure spaghetti-strap top which showed off some skin.
But it seems the sartorial furore isn't all Skelton's doing, as she has also had some help from celebrity stylist Cobbie Yates.
The stylist, who has previously worked with Cara Delevingne, Jessie J and Justin Bieber, has hand-picked a selection of dresses for her to unveil throughout the Olympics, as confirmed by Yates to MailOnline.
Head-turner: Helen matched her bold lips to her statement heels
Doing her job: Helen was all ready to report on the action as a microphone peeked out from the side of her tousled shoulder length tresses
Fun: She seemed to be having a whale of a time
Olympics: Helen donned a spaghetti-strap top as she and the team sat poolside earlier this week for swimming coverage
Snapshot: She once again delighted viewers by showing some skin in her outfit
Helen's mother laughed off the attention surrounding her daughter's outfits, asking whether or not viewers thought she'd be better off in a tracksuit.
It came after she wowed viewers on Sunday night in a stunning orange party dress while she previously wore a short navy dress that some viewers claimed suggested she was more suited to 'going clubbing afterwards'.
Speaking outside their large picturesque farmhouse on the edge of the Lake District Helen Skelton's parents defended their daughter's decision to wear a revealing dress while presenting the Olympics.
Famous: Celebrity stylist Cobbie Yates (pictured) has reportedly picked out a selection of outfits for Helen to unveil throughout the Olympics
Model: The stylist, who has worked with Cara Delevingne (pictured), Jessie J and Justin Bieber, has hand-picked a selection of dresses for her to unveil throughout the Olympics
Big names: Justin Bieber (left) and Cara Delevingne (right) are among stylist Cobbie Yates' celebrity clients - and he's reportedly helped pick out some outfits for presenter Helen Skelton
The star's father Richard Skelton said: 'I really can't see what the fuss is about.
We haven't spoken to her but I'm sure she's laughing it off. I'm not bothered in the least. She's a bonny young lass.
Helen's father Richard Skelton
'We haven't spoken to her but I'm sure she's laughing it off. I'm not bothered in the least. She's a bonny young lass.
'There's a lot of stuff going on in the world, I can't believe people are bothered about Helen's dress.
'We're just happy she's out there doing a good job, doing a difficult job, a job she enjoys. If people are tuning in, aren't they watching the swimming?
'We have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever. I can't believe people are bothered about it.
'Anyway, there's somebody advising her on what to wear, it's not her choice.'
Family: Helen's mother Janet (pictured) said: 'She's in Brazil, what is she going to wear? A tracksuit? Basically, it's just a bit of a hoo ha over nothing'
Support: Helen's mother Janet added that 'it's the Olympics that's important' rather than the outfits the presenters choose to wear
Demure: Helen Skelton, right, opted for a below-the-knee purple skirt today after enduring criticism over her choice of outfit while presenting the Olympic swimming in the past two days
Outfit: Helen stunned viewers again last night with an orange party dress, as she presented the coverage from the swimming pool

Helen's mum Janet added: 'I think the thing people aren't getting is that those podiums are quite high.
'She's in Brazil, what is she going to wear? A tracksuit? Basically, it's just a bit of a hoo ha over nothing. Let's be honest.
'I just wish it would stop. It's the Olympics that's important, not what she's wearing. I honestly can't believe the carry on.'
Furthermore, on Saturday night Twitter fans went into meltdown when she wore a navy dress with a short skirt in the warmth of the Rio swimming arena, which many pointed out offered more than a glimpse of her enviably long legs.
perruques cheveux naturelsShe didn't seem to have toned down her outfits for the Sunday night coverage but perhaps she has taken note of what has been said about her.
Many people defended her choice of clothing across the weekend.
Party: Despite the furore over her Saturday night outfit, Helen went for a bright orange dress (pictured) on Sunday night as she presented the Olympic coverage
Daytime: The trio of presenters were back on screen on Sunday, with Helen in a blue and white lace collared dress
Leggy lady! Helen was getting fans hot under the collar on Saturday as she presented the BBC's coverage of the swimming at Rio's 2016 Olympics in a short dress (pictured)
Star: Helen, who is famous for her extreme sporting endeavours to raise money for charities, posted an image of the dress to Instagram with the caption #outfitoftheday
James Brimson wrote on Twitter: 'I hope that you are satisfied by Helen Skelton's skirt length today. Literally no leg whatsoever.'
But today's outfit disappointed some people, with some taking to Twitter to hit back at her critics for forcing her into more conservative outfits.
Gary Marshal quipped: 'See what you moaning b******* have done look at Helen Skelton's skirt now!'
Ken Tague added: 'That's a boring long skirt on Helen Skelton today.'
During the day on Sunday she wore a blue and white lace collared dress, which she swapped for a bright orange party number for the night time.
Viewers stayed up until past 2am to watch Britain's gold medal win in the swimming last night - but many seemed more concerned by Helen's choice of attire.
An eyeful! Viewers' tweets suggested they were paying more attention to Helen's legs than to the swimming coverage on Saturday night
All eyes on her: The presenter sent Twitter into meltdown as fans rushed to comment about her tiny navy skirt that offered viewers a glimpse of her enviably long legs
Commenting on her ensemble, one viewer tweeted: 'Helen Skelton must be going clubbing after this with that dress on.'
The ensemble also inspired some viewers who weren't so keen on the sport to stay on the channel, with one quipping: 'The swimming just got interesting!'
Another agreed: 'Wasn't that bothered about the swimming. Am now. Is all.'
One user hammered home the point by posting: 'Most of us blokes aren't really watching the swimming, Helen!'
Some seemed not to see the situation as a laughing matter, with one tweeting: 'The @BBCSport presenter #HelenSkelton needs to wear appropriate clothing to present swimming. Many ppl don't want a nightclub mini dress #bbc [sic].
It sparked an uproar on Twitter, as many users leapt to her defence and pointed out that it was hot in Rio.
Two of a kind: She was joined by Olympian swimmers Rebecca Adlington and Mark Foster - who also flashed some thigh in a pair of navy shorts
One Twitter user wrote: 'If you're struggling to concentrate on the sport because a woman has a pair of legs, it says more about you than her.'
Another added: 'Dear Helen, you're a human being. Wear whatever the f*** you like. Nobody has the right to tell you otherwise.'
Another said: 'People getting their knickers in a twist literally over Helen Skelton showing a bit of leg. So what. The woman's in Rio. Bit hot there.'
The mother-of-one shot to fame presenting Blue Peter in 2008, and has taken on a number of extreme challenges and expeditions for charity.
As well as running a 78-mile ultra-marathon in Namibia, she has kayaked the full length of the Amazon river and became the first person ever to reach the South Pole on a bicycle.
She took over the coverage from veteran sports presenter Clare Balding, and previously hosted the 2016 World Swimming Championships.
Leggy ladies! Helen's outfit has clearly just ridden up as she sat down, as demonstrated when she posed alongside Rebecca for a snap
But she has revealed that despite her daredevil activities she is not 'naturally fit'.
As she trained for her many adventures, friends would turn up at her home to help encourage her with gin and tonics.
'I'm not naturally fit, I trained for those things,' she said this weekend.
'I had a rowing machine at home and my friends used to come round and give me gin and tonic and sit while I was on it, because I couldn't go to the pub.'
She had been planning on taking her son, one-year-old Ernie, to Rio with her, but that her and rugby player husband Richie Myler decided it wasn't worth the risk.
'He [Ernie] was going to come with me until a couple of weeks ago when my husband sat down and was like 'Helen, the Zika virus',' she told Notebook magazine.
Video captured the moment Rebecca appeared to stroke the thigh of her co-presenter Mark Foster's thigh under the table during the BBC's Olympic swimming coverage
But Skelton wasn't the only one to draw gasps from the online audience on Saturday night.
During Saturday night's coverage, eagle-eyed viewers spotted double Olympic gold-medal winner Rebecca Adlington appearing to give her co-host Mark Foster's leg a squeeze.
Adlington and Foster, himself a former Olympic swimmer, are working together for the coverage from Rio.
But viewers took to Twitter as they started to speculate on the chemistry between Adlington and Foster.
One wrote: '@BBCSport can you just shift Mark Foster and Rebecca Adlington apart, I'm here to watch swimming not them touch each other up.'
Another, Jason Scott Tilley, suggested: 'Rebecca Adlington so fancies Mark Foster.'
Oops! The incident came after Helen famously flashed her underwear at the London 2012 Olympic Parade whilst interviewing Sarah Storey and Chris Hoy with co-host Ben Shephard
It comes just months after Adlington, who won two golds for Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, announced her break-up with husband Harry Needs after being married for only 18 months.
Helen also accidentally flashed her underwear at the London 2012 Olympic Parade.
Co-hosting with Ben Shephard, she suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as her short red dress flew up in a gust of wind.
Luckily, the sporty star was able to pull off the accident with aplomb, yanking her dress down quickly and smiling as though nothing had happened.
Oh dear! She suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction as her short red dress flew up in a gust of wind. Luckily, the sporty star was able to pull off the accident

With starring roles in Suicide Squad, Wolf of Wall Street and The Legend of Tarzan, Margot Robbie has Hollywood well and truly under her spell.
And now a new generation of up-and-coming Australian soap stars are trying to emulate the success of the ex-Neighbours actress.
Olympia Valance, Mavournee Hazel and Lilly Van Der Meer - all of whom are causing a stir on Neighbours, are trying to follow in their role model's footsteps.
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perruques cheveuxRole model: Neighbours star Olympia Valance (left) is trying to emulate the success of Margot Robbie (right)
Lilly, who plays Xanthe Canning on the show, has even been touted as the new Margot thanks, in part, to her upbringing in the same Gold Coast neighbourhood.
The 16-year-old has previously told the Courier Mail how she has been spurred on by the blonde beauty's success.
'I love watching all her films, and it's so encouraging to see how well she has done,' she said.
Rising star: Lilly Van Der Meer (pictured) has also expressed an interest in moving to LA

Sister act: Olympia (left), whose is blessed with the same incredible looks as her older sister Holly Candy (nee Valance), is also making waves on the popular soap
'I love where I am right now. Neighbours is so amazing and I ­always wanted to be a part of a show like this.'
Olympia, whose is blessed with the same incredible looks as her older sister Holly Candy (nee Valance), is also making waves on the popular soap.
The brunette beauty has already been scouted by the same Hollywood agents that look after Chris and Liam Hemsworth.
lace front wigsShe has not ruled out a move to Tinseltown and all eyes will be on the 23-year-old when her contract runs out early next year.
Making waves: Olympia has already been scouted by the same Hollywood agents that look after Chris and Liam Hemsworth
Popular: With starring roles in Suicide Squad (pictured), Wolf of Wall Street and The Legend of Tarzan, Margot Robbie has Hollywood well and truly under her spell
Olympia, who plays Paige Smith on the show, has previously told Sydney Morning Herald how she would 'love' to try something different and star in a movie.
'LA might be down the line,' she said.
Mavournee has also spoken about how she strives to match Margot's work ethic on the Neighbours set.
She told news.com.au: 'Margot's work ethic (on Neighbours) was impeccable. She always arrived on set knowing her lines.
'Being where Margot has been I'm trying to replicate that.'
Talent: Mavournee Hazel has also spoken about how she strives to match Margot's work ethic on the Neighbours set

She's been enjoying a picturesque holiday in Italy with her family.
And Beyonce looked stylish as she was spotted in Lipari, Sicily with husband Jay Z and their adorable daughter Blue Ivy on Friday.
Rocking a black one-piece swimsuit, the 34-year-old superstar enjoyed the sights and sounds of the beautiful island with her nearest and dearest.
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Fun in the sun! Beyonce looked stylish as she was spotted in Lipari, Sicily with husband Jay Z and their adorable daughter Blue Ivy
Showing off her sizzling hot body, her strapless monokini accentuated her ample cleavage and featured a patterned string planel across her midriff with pretty gold beading.
Adding a splash of colour, she donned a chunky turquoise statement necklace and accessorised with hoop earrings.
Covering her face with a large sunhat, she looked every inch the stylish star.
Sizzling! Rocking a black one-piece swimsuit, the 34-year-old superstar enjoyed the sights and sounds of the beautiful island
cosplay wigsEffortless glamour: Covering her pretty face with metallic shades, she wore her trademark golden tresses in beach curls
Yummy mummy: Showing off her sizzling hot body, her strapless monokini accentuated her ample cleavage and featured a patterned string planel across her midriff with pretty gold beading
And covering her pretty face with metallic shades, she wore her trademark golden tresses in beach curls.
Adding a cover-up to her ensemble, she rocked a semi-sheer dark blue kaftan.
Opting for casual footwear, the Run The World hitmaker wore low black sandals.
La Dolce Vita! Adding a splash of colour, she donned a chunky turquoise statement necklace and accessorised with hoop earrings
Mini-me: Little Blue Ivy was also in tow, looking cute in a burgundy summer dress
Adorable: Wearing her hair in cute bows, the four-year-old tot donned pretty designer sandals with metallic wings

Family affair: 46-year-old music mogul Jay looked casual in a white T-shirt and shorts, as they explored the island with a group of friends
Precious cargo: Doting dad Jay and a pal helped Blue Ivy onto a boat
I got you babe: Jay then turned his attentions to his stunning wife, making sure she got onto the boat safely
Little Blue Ivy was also in tow, looking cute in a burgundy summer dress.
Wearing her hair in cute bows, she donned pretty designer sandals with metallic wings.
The four-year-old tot held on to dad Jay Z's hand as they boarded a boat.
VIP treatment: Bey held out her hand as she negotiated the jump from the shore
Leggy: The music superstar showed off her long legs as she climbed aboard
Mini me: Beyonce kept close to her daughter all day, holding her hand in the sunshine
Group outing: Beyonce and Jay have been joined by some friends in Italy
The 46-year-old music mogul looked casual in a white T-shirt and shorts, as they explored the island with a group of friends.
The pop star and her family were enjoying some down time after wrapping up the European leg of her Formation World Tour.
Beyoncé's tour heads back to the US next month, as she continues to promote her latest album Lemonade.
The need for speed: Beyonce later showed off her action girl side as she hit a jet ski
VIP on board! The star got some pointers before whizzing off
Giving her a run for her money: Jay also hopped on a jet ski for a ride across the waves